The application “Search for Xiaomi device”: how it works, why you need and how to configure correctly

What is Xiaomi’s Device Search App and Why You Need It?

Have you ever lost a Xiaomi smartphone, headphones or fitness bracelet and spent hours searching for them around the house?The Mi Find Device app is Xiaomi’s official tool that helps you quickly find lost brand gadgets via GPS, Bluetooth or audio signal.It’s built into the Mi Account ecosystem and works not only with smartphones, but also with smartwatches, speakers, headphones and even electric vehicles.

The main difference from its peers (eg, Google Find My Device) is support for all Xiaomi devices, including those that do not work on Android. For example, you can find headphones Redmi Buds 4 Pro or Mi Band 8 bracelet, even if they are disconnected from the phone. The application does not require a separate installation: it is integrated into Settings. → Mi Account → Search for the device on smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO.

But how does it work? Can it be used when the device is turned off? And how secure is it to share location data with Xiaomi? Let's take a look at the basics to the hidden settings that most users don't even know they have.

How Device Search Works: Technology and Limitations

The app uses a combination of three technologies to locate gadgets:

• 📡 GPS/GLONASS – accurate coordinate search (works only if the device is on and connected to the Internet).
• 🔵 Bluetooth – determines the distance to the device in radius ~10–50 meters (useful for indoor search).
• 🔔 Sound signal – makes the gadget make a loud sound, even if it is in silent mode.

It's important to understand that if the device is turned off or discharged, you can't find it through GPS. However, Xiaomi offers a partial solution: the Last Known Location feature saves the coordinates of the gadget before you turn off. This works for both smartphones and wearable devices (for example, Mi Band 7 Pro or Watch S3).

Another nuance is geofences, you can set up notifications if the device leaves a given area (such as your home or office), which is convenient for monitoring children or preventing theft, but not all models have the feature, and the full list of supported devices is shown in the table below.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13 and older, geofence may conflict with energy saving modes. If notifications don't come, check the battery settings → Power saving mode and add the device search app to exceptions.

Step-by-step: how to configure “Search for a device” on a smartphone

To use the feature, you need to follow three mandatory steps: link the device to the Mi Account, enable location permissions and configure search options. Consider the process with the example of the Xiaomi 13 smartphone with MIUI 14:

1. Open Settings → Mi Account and log in (if you haven’t already done so) and make sure your account is confirmed by email or phone.
2. Go to Mi Account → Search for the device and turn on the master switch. Accept a request to access the geodata.
3. In the list of devices, select the desired gadget (for example, Redmi Buds 5) and configure the settings: 🔔 Sound signal – volume and duration. 📍 Last location – turn on the position saving. 🚫 Blocking – activate the remote lock when lost.

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If your device doesn’t appear on the list, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the gadget and smartphone.
• 📱 Update the firmware through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 🔗 Re-attach the device to the account (for example, for headphones: press the reset button for 10 seconds and connect again).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) Device search can be hidden. To find it, search for the settings for Find Device.

How to find a lost Xiaomi device: a step-by-step algorithm

Let’s say you lost your Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi Buds 4 headphones. Here’s what to do depending on the situation:

1. The device is on and connected to the Internet

The simplest case is:

1. Sign in to Mi Account from another device (such as a tablet or computer) at account.xiaomi.com.
2. Go to the Device Management section → Searching device.
3. Select the lost gadget – the map will display its current location with an accuracy of 5-50 meters.
4. Click Play Sound to make the device start beeping (even in silent mode!).

2. The device is switched off or discharged

Only the latest known location will help:

• Open your location history in Mi Account (available within 24 hours of being disabled).
• Check the places where the device was last used (such as a cafe or a transport).
• If it’s a smartphone, try calling it from another number – sometimes the battery is enough to receive the call.

3.The device is at home but does not respond to sound

Use Bluetooth search:

1. Open on your smartphone Settings → Bluetooth.
2. Click Search Nearby – the system will show the distance to the gadget in meters.
3. Move around the room, watching the change in distance (the smaller the number, the closer the device).

💡

If you are looking for Xiaomi headphones in your bag or pocket, put your smartphone in a plastic bag – this will strengthen the Bluetooth signal and increase the search radius by 10-15%.

Hidden “Device Search” features you didn’t know about

Most users use the app only to find lost items, but it has other useful features:

• 🔒 Remote locking -- you can lock your smartphone or erase it if it's stolen -- works even without it. SIM-cards (via Wi-Fi).
• 📱 Backup – before resetting to factory settings, the system will offer to save contacts and photos to Mi Cloud.
• 🚨 Anti-Theft Mode** – If someone tries to reset their phone settings without your password, you will receive a notification with a photo of the attacker (works on the phone). MIUI 14+).
• 🔄 File transfer – you can remotely download photos from your lost phone to another gadget via Mi Cloud.

One of the most useful hidden features is activity tracking, so if you give your smartphone to a child, for example, you can turn on notifications about:

• Changes SIM-map.
• Installation of new applications.
• Attempts to disable "Device Search".

To activate these options:

1. Go to Settings → Mi Account → Device Search → [select gadget] → Additional features.
2. Turn on Security Notice and Activity Tracking switches.

Security and privacy: What to know before using

Many users are afraid that Xiaomi is collecting their geodata, so let's see what data is being transmitted and how to protect it:

• 📍 Location - only transmitted when the device is on and connected to the Internet. History is stored for 30 days.
• 🔑 Account Data – Mi Account encrypts information, but it is recommended to use two-factor authentication.
• 📱 Device List – Xiaomi sees which gadgets are tied to your account, but doesn’t have access to their content.

To minimize the risks:

1. Turn off Diagnostic Data Collection in Settings → About Phone → Reviews and Analytics.
2. Check the list of associated devices in Mi Account regularly and delete unknown devices.
3. Use a complex password (at least 12 characters) and link your account to an email instead of a phone.

⚠️ Note: If you are selling or transferring a Xiaomi device to another person, be sure to untie it from your Mi Account. Otherwise, the new owner will be able to track your location! → Mi Account → Devices → [select a gadget] → Delete.

💡

The Device Search app doesn’t work without internet on your smartphone, but it can use Bluetooth to search within a 50 meter radius. For maximum reliability, turn on your lost device’s mobile data and Wi-Fi in advance (in the security settings).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even the official app has crashes, and here are the most common bugs and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods worked, try:

• 🔧 Reset network settings on your smartphone (Settings) → SIM-maps and mobile networks → Resetting network settings).
• 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi through the feedback form (specify the device model and version) MIUI).
• 🔄 Install alternative search software (e.g. Google Find My Device for Android smartphones).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions